Caregiver Sick Leave Bill Hearing Set for Friday

Bill AB394 Aims to provide flexibility for Nevada’s 350,000+ Caregivers  to Use Earned Sick Days to Care for Sick or Disabled Loved Ones

CARSON CITY, NV – A new bill before the Nevada Legislature will allow Nevada’s growing number of family caregivers, who are employed, the flexibility needed to allow them to use their earned time off to provide care. Over 60-percent of Nevada’s family Caregivers are employed and need to continue working while providing care to their loved ones.

The bill, AB394, will be heard on Friday, April 7^th in the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee at 1:30 pm in Room 4100 of the Nevada Legislature.

“You shouldn’t worry about losing your job because you take your Mother to the doctor,” said Barry Gold, AARP Nevada’s Director of Government Relations. “We’re optimistic the importance of this bill will be recognized by our State of Nevada leaders.”

Known as the Caregiver Sick Leave Bill, it proposes adding this flexibility for employees who are family caregivers in Nevada and will not require employers to provide any addition benefits or paid/unpaid time off than they currently offer. It simply allows Nevada’s employees to use their earned paid/unpaid time off to care for their loved ones.

Currently, 70-percent of caregivers report making work accommodations – like arriving late/leaving early, taking time off, cutting back on hours, changing jobs, or quitting a job – because of caregiving. Employees, who are offered family-friendly benefits, and caregiver friendly benefits, are better able to stay in their jobs, earn a living income, and provide for their own families.

The benefits of the bill are numerous and have great impact for family caregivers statewide. It would help Nevada employees who care for immediate family - aging parents, spouses, adults with dementia, disabilities or other chronic conditions, children with disabilities or chronic medical conditions. It would help family caregivers ensure loved ones remain living at home, which is most often facilitated by an in-home caregiver, preventing premature institutionalization at a higher cost.

The bill has gained support from several prominent Nevada organizations and groups involved with caregiving including: Nevada Public Health Association, Easter Seals, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Nevada Advanced Practice Nurses Association, Human Services Network, Community Chest, Inc., Opportunity Alliance Nevada, Women of Washoe, and Positive Options Consulting.